Tiny soft paws touched my hands, and that was all the warning I had before Whiskey plucked the ring from my fingers like it was his favorite salmon-flavored treat.
He launched himself off me, and his paws hit the deck in a run before I realized what’d happened.
I dove after him. “Whiskey, stop!”
He did not stop.
Chaos erupted on the deck. Everyone went after Whiskey, trying to cut him off.
My trickster cat darted between tables and lounge chairs like a seasoned thief, juking everyone who got within arm’s length. The chase only excited him more.
I never thought I’d be running after my cat panties-less, but that’s life, I guess. All I could do was yank Cade’s shirt down over my ass so I didn’t flash anyone. I bumped into Madison, then Piper—before Whiskey leapt onto a railing overlooking the ocean, and everyone froze.
He paused and lifted his head to show off the ring triumphantly, like the tricky little jewel thief he was.
“Please don’t swallow it,” I whispered, holding my hands out as if that would stop him.
A breeze swept across the deck—reminding me of those old Western standoffs my grandpa used to watch.
Dr. Lovejoy’s calm voice sounded out of place in the heat of the moment. “Now might be a good time for everyone to take a steadying breath. This is an opportunity?—”
“Not now, Bliss,” Cade snapped.
But I welcomed the advice, and I took a deep breath. We needed that ring—and my cat—far, far away from the railing. And that responsibility lay with me.
“Careful, Lord Whiskerson,” I warned gently, using his full title to show him I meant business. “Bring the ring back to me, and everything will be okay.”
He just blinked slowly back at me. But I knew he wouldn’t be fooled. If I wanted him to trade with me, I needed something of higher value to him than the ring.
I raised my voice without taking my eyes off Whiskey. “Mac, did you get a frozen cocktail already?”
There was a pause before he answered. “A piña colada, but don’t judge. I’m on vacation?—”
“Offer Whiskey your little drink umbrella, please,” I said, praying he had one. “See if he’ll trade you for it.”
Mac huffed but obliged. “Hey, Whiskers. You see this?”
Whiskey’s head whipped toward Mac, ears twitching and ring sparkling from his mouth.
“Good boy,” Mac murmured, while I held my breath. “You want the nice umbrella, don’t you? You can have it. Just come give me your shiny little ring first.”
Whiskey stared back at Mac, and we all waited with bated breath.
His tail flicked underneath the railing once, twice. The moment stretched long enough that I went lightheaded from not breathing.
By some miracle, Whiskey must’ve thought the trade was worth it, because he leapt toward Mac to get the umbrella.
Unfortunately, he dropped the ring first.
“Whiskey,no!” I cried, lunging toward him.
But I was too late.
Time slowed as the ring fell. I watched in horror as it clinked against the top of the railing and seemed to hover in midair…before dropping over the edge and into the ocean.
It landed in the water with a faintplop.
Nobody moved, not even the breeze.
